Feeding; one big feed vs multiple smaller ones.

[duanes]

Goulding, Carvallo, & Ferriera (1988) did 10 years of research fish of the Rio Negro, which included the stomach contents of over 900 earth eaters (Geophagus, Biotodoma, & Satanoperca) and found an average of 25% of the contents on average, was detritus, with the rest mostly micro flora & fauna including insect larvae, small crustaceans, and aquatic insects.
And although Geophagine mouths appear to be large, the items were almost always very small.
I often see posts about intestinal disease, and wonder if the general habit of feeding 1 or 2 large meals per day contribute to the proliferation of these diseases.
The 25% detritus the researchers found may also be telling.
Just as we humans seem to need fiber to be intestinally healthy, the detritus consumed may do the same thing for "certain" species of geophagines, helping to clean out the gut. As may be the shells of tiny mollusks and crustaceans.
Although a Parachromis, Caquetaia, or even the more piscivorine Geophagus of the braziliensus clade, may be fine with 1 feeding per day, I believe most Geophagines have evolved to a different trophic drummer, and this seems to me, that needs be taken into account when keeping them.

 

[duanes]

Goulding, Carvallo, & Ferriera (1988) did 10 years of research fish of the Rio Negro, which included the stomach contents of over 900 earth eaters (Geophagus, Biotodoma, & Satanoperca) and found an average of 25% of the contents on average, was detritus, with the rest mostly micro flora & fauna including insect larvae, small crustaceans, and aquatic insects.
And although Geophagine mouths appear to be large, the items were almost always very small.
I often see posts about intestinal disease, and wonder if the general habit of feeding 1 or 2 large meals per day contribute to the proliferation of these diseases.
The 25% detritus the researchers found may also be telling.
Just as we humans seem to need fiber to be intestinally healthy, the detritus consumed may do the same thing for "certain" species of geophagines, helping to clean out the gut. As may be the shells of tiny mollusks and crustaceans.
Although a Parachromis, Caquetaia, or even the more piscivorine Geophagus of the braziliensus clade, may be fine with 1 feeding per day, I believe most Geophagines have evolved to a different trophic drummer, and this seems to me, that needs be taken into account when keeping them.

 

[Deadliestviper7]

Goulding, Carvallo, & Ferriera (1988) did 10 years of research fish of the Rio Negro, which included the stomach contents of over 900 earth eaters (Geophagus, Biotodoma, & Satanoperca) and found an average of 25% of the contents on average, was detritus, with the rest mostly micro flora & fauna including insect larvae, small crustaceans, and aquatic insects.
And although Geophagine mouths appear to be large, the items were almost always very small.
I often see posts about intestinal disease, and wonder if the general habit of feeding 1 or 2 large meals per day contribute to the proliferation of these diseases.
The 25% detritus the researchers found may also be telling.
Just as we humans seem to need fiber to be intestinally healthy, the detritus consumed may do the same thing for "certain" species of geophagines, helping to clean out the gut. As may be the shells of tiny mollusks and crustaceans.
Although a Parachromis, Caquetaia, or even the more piscivorine Geophagus of the braziliensus clade, may be fine with 1 feeding per day, I believe most Geophagines have evolved to a different trophic drummer, and this seems to me, that needs be taken into account when keeping them.

Exactly right,the same goes for other bottom skimmers (I've used dead leaves and plant matter in the tank bottom for fish and crayfish to mess with)

 

[RD.]

I've always been of the belief that feeding fish is part art, and part science. The art portion comes with time, and experience. Some learn early on with regards to correct methods, types, and amounts to feed, others never do.

I have always found the science part quite fascinating, and while I agree that one should always start with comparing what's in our glass tanks with what takes place in the wild, we have learned through science that many species, especially among the cichlid group, are very adaptive, with very plastic gastrointestinal systems. So plastic that some cichlids not only adapt (such as drastically shortened intestines) in captivity, but also do so in the wild during seasonal weather changes. Most cichlids lead a life of feast or famine dictated by the rainy/dry season. So while a diet of 25% fiber may be typical in the wild, at least during certain times of the year, in captivity 5-10% may be more than adequate. In fact, I have bred and raised numerous species of fish classified as strict herbivores, on a diet that was 5% crude fiber - and never once experienced dietary issues among the fish. Those fish still consumed shells/chitin as part of their diet, but with a more nutrient dense diet I could feed less overall, and less often, compared to their diet in the wild.

So other than with small fry or very small juveniles, my focus has never been on the frequency of feeding, but more so on the quality of the food, and the quantity being fed.

 

[Deadliestviper7]

I've always been of the belief that feeding fish is part art, and part science. The art portion comes with time, and experience. Some learn early on with regards to correct methods, types, and amounts to feed, others never do.

I have always found the science part quite fascinating, and while I agree that one should always start with comparing what's in our glass tanks with what takes place in the wild, we have learned through science that many species, especially among the cichlid group, are very adaptive, with very plastic gastrointestinal systems. So plastic that some cichlids not only adapt (such as drastically shortened intestines) in captivity, but also do so in the wild during seasonal weather changes. Most cichlids lead a life of feast or famine dictated by the rainy/dry season. So while a diet of 25% fiber may be typical in the wild, at least during certain times of the year, in captivity 5-10% may be more than adequate. In fact, I have bred and raised numerous species of fish classified as strict herbivores, on a diet that was 5% crude fiber - and never once experienced dietary issues among the fish. Those fish still consumed shells/chitin as part of their diet, but with a more nutrient dense diet I could feed less overall, and less often, compared to their diet in the wild.

So other than with small fry or very small juveniles, my focus has never been on the frequency of feeding, but more so on the quality of the food, and the quantity being fed.

Very well said and accurately put!
Agree